Location: 3/26/18

City: Porterville

Posted by: Media Relations

Sheriff's Aero Squadron offers aviation scholarship

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Aero Squadron offers a scholarship each year to a student who wants to make aviation a career. Students from Tulare, Kings, Kern and Fresno counties may apply, said Scott James, commander for the Aero Squadron.


“We’re looking for someone who is career minded,” he said. “They want to be in aviation.”


The Sheriff's Aero Squadron is a benevolent volunteer organization that trains for air searches and message drops. Members include volunteer pilots and aerial observers. Each pilot is licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration while aerial observers are individuals who assist pilots during search and rescue training and operations.


Members of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Aero Squadron attend search and rescue readiness training monthly and practice aerial search exercises annually. They also raise money for this scholarship program which is geared toward high school and college age students who wish to make a career in general and commercial aviation, professional aircraft maintenance, professional piloting, or military aviation.


Last year, the Aero Squadron scholarship was given to Courtney Risner of Bakersfield, a Fresno State student majoring in mechanical engineering under an Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corp Scholarship. Her goal after graduation from college is to become a test pilot.


James said that since Risner received the scholarship in August, she has earned her pilot’s license and now she’s working on her instrument rating.


“We encourage students to apply,” he said.


The application process is ongoing. The deadline each year is Dec. 31 and the next recipient will be announced this summer.


For more info and to request an application, please send an email to: Scholarships@TCSOAeroSquad.com.
To find out more about the Tulare County Sheriff’s Aero Squadron, contact Deputy Shawn Hermosillo or Deputy Randy Semic at (559) 802-9412.


The Tulare County Sheriff’s Aero Squadron is affiliated with the Western States Association of Sheriff’s Air Squadrons which was founded in 1947 in Bass Lake.